Newkid wrote:I have been flying a Rans S-7S Courier for the past 250 hrs of my flying life, and just started flying a Kitfox Model IV (about 20 hrs.) and have around an hour in a Kitfox Super Sport set up as a taildragger. All had the Rotax 912S and the Model IV and the S-7 have the same prop set at the same pitch. Anyway the Model IV sets you back in your seat on takeoff and is airborn right around 90 to 100 ft. solo, and climbs out at 1500 fpm. Cruise is around 108 mph at 5500 rpm. Right now the shortest I can get it down and stopped from a specific point is 250 ft. The Rans takes about 150 ft to take off and climbs at 1300-1400 fpm. Cruise is at 105 and I can get it down and stopped in 220 ft. The Kitfox Super Sport takes about 250 ft to leave the ground, climbs at about 1100 to 1200 fpm, and cruises at 110 mph. This is at 2200' elevation and around 80 degrees. Weight is a huge key, the Model IV only weighs 620 lbs while the Super Sport weighed 820 lbs, both with the same wing. Out of all three the Model IV is the most fun. It is a great handling light airplane that can do long X-countries. The Rans would be my next choice and the Super Sport flies more like a certified plane. I haven't been around the Zenairs that much, but I know they they aren't terribly fast, Cruise around 85 mph I think, but do good in the STOL derpartment. I have spent 1300 hrs behind the 912 series of engines and don't have one thing bad to say about them except for their prices. And for these little airplanes I wouldn't have any other engine. Hope this helps.

courierguy wrote:..... I want a S-7S wing that folds like my old Kitfox in other words, and there isn't any such thing.....

hotrod150 wrote:

courierguy wrote:..... I want a S-7S wing that folds like my old Kitfox in other words, and there isn't any such thing.....

Where's that old "spirit of homebuilding"? Any way to put new fittings on the ends of the spars & on the fuselage attach like what a KF has?

Twister wrote:Despite being registered, I reached 403 FORBIDDEN messages when I tried to post a new thread, but it's probably just as well that I post my inquiry here, despite it being two years with no further postings.

courierguy wrote:

Newkid wrote:I have been flying a Rans S-7S Courier for the past 250 hrs of my flying life, and just started flying a Kitfox Model IV (about 20 hrs.) and have around an hour in a Kitfox Super Sport set up as a taildragger. All had the Rotax 912S and the Model IV and the S-7 have the same prop set at the same pitch. Anyway the Model IV sets you back in your seat on takeoff and is airborn right around 90 to 100 ft. solo, and climbs out at 1500 fpm. Cruise is around 108 mph at 5500 rpm. Right now the shortest I can get it down and stopped from a specific point is 250 ft. The Rans takes about 150 ft to take off and climbs at 1300-1400 fpm. Cruise is at 105 and I can get it down and stopped in 220 ft. The Kitfox Super Sport takes about 250 ft to leave the ground, climbs at about 1100 to 1200 fpm, and cruises at 110 mph. This is at 2200' elevation and around 80 degrees. Weight is a huge key, the Model IV only weighs 620 lbs while the Super Sport weighed 820 lbs, both with the same wing. Out of all three the Model IV is the most fun. It is a great handling light airplane that can do long X-countries. The Rans would be my next choice and the Super Sport flies more like a certified plane. I haven't been around the Zenairs that much, but I know they they aren't terribly fast, Cruise around 85 mph I think, but do good in the STOL derpartment. I have spent 1300 hrs behind the 912 series of engines and don't have one thing bad to say about them except for their prices. And for these little airplanes I wouldn't have any other engine. Hope this helps.